Sunday, August 24, 2014

For precision in manoeuvres in the skyye, aircraft turns are classified in terms of the speed and angle of bank at which the turns are made.

Rate-1 turns require you to turn the aircraft 360 deg in two minutes (or 3 deg per second) and Rate-2 turns 360 deg in one minute, the latter obviously being at twice the speed.

90 deg in 30 secs, and 360 deg in 2 mins = Rate-1 turn

Lesser bank

For aircraft holding purposes, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) mandates that all turns should be made, "at a bank angle of 25° or at a rate of 3° per second, whichever requires the lesser bank."

By the above formula, a rate one turn at a TAS (True Air Speed) greater than 180 knots would require a bank angle of more than 25 degrees. Therefore faster aircraft just use 25 degrees for their turns. Our Flight School aircraft cruise at 90 - 110 kts, so a Rate-1 turn would apply to us.

Medium Turns

A Medium turn is defined as a turn using up to 30 deg angle of bank. When taking off or landing one shouldn't use more than 15 deg angle of bank as the stall speed of the aircraft increases with an increased angle of bank and during landings and take-offs the speed of the aircraft is at its lowest and already closest to stall speed.

In the Turn

At 30 degrees angle of bank – which should be recognised by reference to the attitude and confirmed by instruments – a slight check of aileron will be required and rudder pressure reduced to maintain balance.

Maintaining the turn involves using the LAI scan.

LLookout

In a scan, look out to the left (port) and scan 20 degrees for 2 seconds from left to right, passing over the nose of the aeroplane. Emphasise looking into the turn.

AAttitude

Ensure the attitude for 30 degrees angle of bank and level flight is correct relative to the horizon and, more importantly, constant. When the outside scan is complete, scan inside.

IInstruments

Are scanned to confirm accurate flight (height – bank – ball).

Angle of bank is controlled with aileron – altitude with elevator.

During the turn, scan only those instruments relevant to the manoeuvre and do not trim the aeroplane.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

As joint owners of our Flight School's Sling ZDL we have notched up well over 100 hours flying together over huge mountains, past many scary clouds and thunderstorms from one side of Southern Africa to the other, but this was the first flight we have done together with Llewellyn in the left seat and me in the right with me being comfortable flying from both sides now. Most right-handed instructors prefer the right seat, but I am left-handed and it has taken a bit of adjustment to fly with my right hand. Fortunately I did my early training in the Foxbat which has a centre Y-stick, needing the pilot's right hand to control the plane from the left seat so my first flying experience was with my right hand.

Llew gets into the left seat while I handle the selfie

We did a jaunt to Pietermaritzburg hoping to have a toasted sandwich in the coffee shop there which opens when the scheduled Airlink jet flies in, but unfortunately they don't serve food over the weekend.

The air was pretty bumpy today with crosswind landings in both Pietermaritzburg and Durban, but the visibility was excellent and we got some good snaps of Durban's beautiful stadium and coastline.

Llewellyn prepares for the flight to Pietermaritzburg

Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium in all its glory

On a clear day you can see forever

Thumbs-up Dave (left, in the right seat) and Llew (right, in the left seat) ha ha

Durban Harbour as we turn inland for Light Flight, then on to Pietermaritzburg

Pietermaritzburg Airport

Looking a bit windswept as the wind was gusting 25kts

Our Durban Skyye Sling ZDL at Pietermaritburg Airport

In a first, our flight school CFI, Brad, was passing by in the flight school Sling FYA and took a snap of us alongside before we continued on our separate ways

The Bluff and Harbour entrance as we rounded it on the return leg to Durban

We are incredibly proud, as Durban Distributors and Agents of the Sling Aircraft, to be associated with The Airplane Factory which has delivered its 200th aircraft. This is an amazing achievement for this Johannesburg team of guys and it pushes The Airplane Factory to within the top 10 aircraft manufacturers in the world today. I am also proud to be the part owner of two of these fine aircraft on register at our Flight School. They have carried me around Table Mountain and Saldanha Bay in the west of South Africa, over the Victoria Falls in the north of Southern Africa and up Mozambique in the north east of Southern Africa and next year will take us across the Mozambique Channel to Madagascar... nothing like the achievement of the guys from The Airplane Factory who have circumnavigated the world twice in their Slings, but exhilarating nevertheless to be part of this adventure.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Click on this link or our For Sale tab above to see more pics, the specs and price of this beautiful high-spec Foxbat for sale through us. The plane may be viewed locally near Durban and is suitable for phtographic work with autopilot and many extras.

Our Flight School Taildragger gives both NPL and PPL or Com pilots the chance to get their type rating or differences training to put the taildragger Explorer on their licences (either Part 61 or Part 62 licences).

I started my training with our Instructor Ian today and we had a little fun with the taildragger performing more like a dodgem car than an aeroplane as I learned the different rudder-control needed to keep the tail-heavier airplane from ground-looping with the rear trying to overtake the front. Much fun.

Our Flight School Sling is a winner and here Brad shows Calvin the controls before doing a circuit at Virginia Airport where we are based. The Sling is available for NPL and soon PPL training as well as hore-and-fly for visiting pilots who want to have some time in the air along our coastline. Email durbanskyye@gmail.com or phone Dave on 083-7033329 for details.

The clear skyye after the rains in Durban gave us a beautiful vista as the flight school had a busy day today.

Durban Skyye Flight School are the only licenced operator to offer Pilot Training and Intro Flights in our microlights in Durban. We operate from Virginia Airport and offer NPL Pilot Training in either our fixed wing sling or one of our two microlights. See our website for more details http://www.durbanskyye.co.za

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Durban Skyye Flight School CEO Dave passed his flight test today for his National Flight Instructor Rating Grade C, so he will now be able to train his own students as well as running the Flight School with his aviation partner Brad, Chief Flying Instructor at the Flight School.. " I am very chuffed and looking forward to this next phase of my aviation life", says Dave. "Thanks to my Instructor and flight school partner Brad for the hours he spent with me having as much fun as I was in my plane teaching me some of the more advanced techniques the Sling is capable of. Thanks also to Johnny our airline pilot who handled the flight test. Looking forward to working more with you." Dave is the first student of Durban Skyye Flight School to commence and complete training at the Flight School.. many more to follow!!

Johnny (right) with Dave during the flight test

It's a thumbs-up from Dave enjoying his flight test

About to go

The view of the beachfront homeward bound on a poor weather day finishing off the flight test

Monday, August 18, 2014

Durban Skyye welcomes our first female student pilot. Great to have you with us Chantelle as you follow your dream to become a Pilot. You Dad I know will be watching this closely. Dad Johnny is an experienced airline and charter pilot who has joined Durban Skyye as an Instructor.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

I did my last training flight with our Flight School A Grade Instructor and CFI Brad today in preparation for my Instructor's Rating Skills test during the week. It is going to be a bit of a crazy week as I have registered for two Commercial Pilot exams on Wednesday and Thursday and hope to do my Instructor's Flight Test on Friday. Today we had a bit of fun in the skyye, avoiding some clouds and practising some simulated emergency landing on some ploughed sugarcane fields and the beach. We also did turning stalls and some advanced manoeuvres, getting really comfortable with the aeroplane n various unusual attitudes.

In the skyye and taking a selfie on the last training flight of my Instructor's rating with Brad

Brad and I set off for our adventure in the skyye - take-off from Virginia Airport. Thanks Brian. Isn't it great to have these photographic aficionados on hand to capture these special moments!

Banking away to the left cutting our own path through the skyye away from the clouds

The coastline around Amanzimtoti seen from the Virginia General Flying area

I also had a chance to jump on the back of Brad's microlight just to help him put the plane away in the hangar. With gusting winds someone needs to hold the wing (which moves in the wind) whilst the other handles the hangar doors. Post by Dave